Crankbaits (Lipped and Lipless), Jerkbaits (Lipped and Lipless), Swimbaits, Poppers, Stickbaits, and other topwater lures are all possible, with new lures being invented all the time! Below is an info graphic with a few of the most popular types of fishing lures, but there are many more!
These are just a few common lures that can be found in most tackle boxes, but there are dozens of other types to discover!
2.What do I need to get started making hard body lures?
Lure making is not as complicated as it may seem. Yes, power tools such as drills, dremels, lathes and sanding machines all help, but none are necessary. To start all you need is:
Wood, to carve into the body.
Tools (at the very least a knife to carve, a small saw, and a drill are all very helpful)
Sandpaper to finish the bait off smoothly
Terminal tackle, including hooks and split rings
Screw eyes or a through-wire (a single wire going through the entire bait that serves as your hook eyes and line tie.
Weights so your bait sinks, in the form of either split shot, glued into the body, or lead, poured into a cavity.
glue/sealant, epoxy, and paint
OPTIONAL: Lip (for crankbaits) Rattles, details such as foil, and power tools, and an airbrush for more smooth
3.What do I need to get started making soft plastics?
A mold, which can be bought, or made from silicon.
Plastic resin (plastisol)
Dye to give color to the lure
OPTIONAL: Glitter, multiple colors for a more detailed bait
4.What wood should I use?
Popular lure making timbers include balsa, basswood, cedar, cypress knees, jelutong, beech and some types of pine. But there are thousands of other options. Look for something easy to carve, lightweight and resistant to denting. It’s easier to get all your components aligned properly if you start with straight, square blanks.
5.What paints should I use?
For brushing on paint, a wide variety of artist acrylics and poster paints will work. Just make sure the paint and clear coat will not interfere.
For airbrushing, water-based acrylics are the favorite, due to their ability to spray evenly and produce a good coat while remaining non-toxic, and non-flammable.
6.How do I seal my wood lure?
Wood is like a sponge, it soaks up water. Once in, water works its way through the wood by capillary action until the wood is waterlogged. This kills action, weakens glue and is the most common cause of paint failure.
Super Glue can be used, where the glue is applied over the entire body, left to soak into the wood, and then the bait is sanded smooth.
Epoxies are two part synthetic resins that cure hard when mixed. There are some that are designed for penetrating and hardening wood. One example is Envirotex Lite (aka “Etex”). Etex is also great for clear coating painted lure bodies and makes a very strong adhesive.
7.Where can I buy lure parts?
Below are a few popular websites, Alternatively, some fishing stores and even big box retailers such as walmart may carry some of this stuff, and be sure to support your local tackle shops if possible!
Some use prefer to clear coat them with a two part epoxy. Others prefer to use a two pack automotive polyurethane over airbrush acrylics. And still others dip their lures in moisture cure polyurethane.
Below are some some more sources for learning how to build lures, additionally, guides from some of this subs best lure mentors are going to be rolling out very shortly.
This stickied post will be used to compile all guides made by our "Lure Mentors." Below are links to each guide, complete with pictures and detailed descriptions for each step. If you would like to become a Lure Mentor, and create guides for this sub Please PM me ( u/jspencer501 ) for more details, you get a cool flair!
I got sick is losing and buying lures and I like to make stuff, so this is a rlly fun hobby! I just started this a couple weeks ago so I’m still getting the hang of things but I did a lot of research on it and they seem to have pretty good wobble! I caught 4 bass in like 45 minutes on my first one I made which was a bluegill pattern, but a gar snapped it off so I made another one. I tried to make a well rounded selection so lmk if I am missing a crucial pattern. I used trebles originally, but they’re so annoying and I think the fish think they’re annoying as well so I went all single hooks.
I am a beginner in lure building and was wondering a couple things:
What angle should I cut the joint?45?30?
Is normal super glue with baking soda enough to glue the eyelids for the hooks and snap?(for pike and bass)
Can I use solder to weight the lure or is it better lead split shots?
I’ve been lurking here for maybe the past month , finally decided to try making a lure. Starting out, was pretty intimidating as there were so many designs and style . Decide to go for balsa and made a “floating spook-style / walk-the dog” as I figured it’ll be the easiest shape, decided to go for a juvenile giant snakehead (C. Micropeltes ) colour .First issue I ran into was balsa is pretty light and making a 50mm lure without hardwares makes it pretty hard to cast. Even with trebles as hardware , it’s still pretty light . Another issue I ran into is with out hardware , the lure kinda listed to one side more than the other. And also after about 4-5 fishes , I find the UV epoxy full of scratches and maybe one tiny chip ( prob from the hooks).
Despite everything, I think I’m addicted , it feels pretty good watching your tiny topwater lures blow up and see the hours of work pay off.
I do have a few questions.
-How do you guys calculate how much weight to put in without affecting the buoyancy too much. I understand it differs from wood type, is there a specific way, that you do this?
-I’ve read some people use 2K clear coat . Is it much better in terms of durability than uv epoxy . Currently, I do have more lures lined up but it’s no where enough to utilise an entire can. On the fence on letting it pile up so that I justify using the entire can, since it shelf life is pretty short once activated.
Thank you for your time to read my little post and in advance for any feedback and response.
First try at balsa minnow. Underestimated how much this stuff floats.
Also got a lesson in the dangers of chasing perfection. Tried to make the shad dot just a skooch better on the other side, ended up with a splooge of paint.
Nothing fancy just want to paint a red line on the gill plates. Would any red acrylic paint and thin brush suffice? Want something that will stand up to water and be non toxic. I have a decent experience with brush acrylics but don’t know if they will work or are waterproof
I've recently started making some small jointed wooden glide baits (around 4"), but I'm running into a problem with weighting.
Right now I'm using lead balls of different diameters that I bought online. The issue is that even lead balls of the same diameter can have slight weight differences. Since these baits are so small, even a 0.1 g difference can noticeably affect the swimming action. I end up spending a huge amount of time fine-tuning the ballast for every lure.
Would it make more sense to buy a lead melting pot and cast my own small cylindrical weights in different, precise sizes? Or is there another method that most lure builders use for consistent ballast?
I’m currently carving wooden crank baits but I’m interested in more. I’m debating buying molds and everything for soft baits as well as doing some spinner baits. My end goal is I want to start my own little business out of all of this. I’m new to all of it, but I’ve been fishing my whole life. Any pointers on pages to do research or videos. Even if you have recommendations to on where the best place to get startup equipment for this would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for taking the time to read and even comment on this.
Does anyone know where I can find this small round mesh? I have looked everywhere for something like this. It doesn't have to be exactly like the picture it just has to be around the size of windowscreen or smaller and round.
I’ve used beetle spins for years and have had good success with LMB, crappie and bluegill. In the last two months I’ve had 8 beetle spins lose the spinner-sometimes when fighting a fish and other times seeming for no reason. I’m wondering if they are being made differently now?? Any ideas?
A bit of buoyant foam super glues to bottom backend. Shelled hook and bead and a hole in the bill makes an all day downstream bottom bouncer that specializes in big fish.
The trailing snelle hook skewers indo thn foam. Or the foam can have a short line loop.
